Elastically supported oscillating toy



March 14, 1950' v. R. KIMPLE 2,500,253

ELASTICALLY SUPPORTED OSCILLATING TOY Filed Sept. 27, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Z. I I Inventor I m LI A [In rneys March '14, 1950 v. R. KIMPLE 2,500,253

ELASTICALLY SUPPORTED OSCILLATING TOY Filed Sept. 27, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 6 A N0 rney:

Patented Mar. 14, 1950 UNITED STATES. PATENT ()FFICE Virgil R. Kimple, Wooster, Ohio Application September 27, I946, Serial'No. 699,835

2 Claims. (CL 46-119) Ellis invention relates toamusement devices in the form of a toy which upon an initial expenditure of energy will become activatedand function over a substantial. period of time, producing antics and movements of an amusing nae ture.

Another object of the invention isto provide a device of the nature specified which may be used for display or advertising. purposes when operated by means of mechanically supplied energy.

Still another object of the inventionis to provide an amusement device embodying a pair of complemental display elements supportedby an elongated flexible element capable of twisting and retracting to transmit and retransmit energy from one element to the other after initial energy has been imparted to one of saidelements, thus producing an alternate, oscillating movementof said elements of gradually decreasing. momentum over a substantial period of time.

These and various other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of one form of the invention;

Figure 2 is an end elevaticnal view;

Figure 3 is afragmentary top plan View;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on line 44 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of a wheeled type and modification of the form shown in Fig,- ure 1';

Figure. 6 is a fragmentary side elevationalview of the head portion of a modifie'd form of display element; 1

Figure '7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 'l'l of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken on line 8--8 of Figure 6.

Referring to the drawings, the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, includes a rectangular shaped base 5 of wood or any other desirable material, having a longitudinal groove 6, along its bottom side, merging with vertical notches in the ends of said base, the groove 6 serving to receive the horizontal portion a of a U- shaped frame generally referred to by numeral 8, the lower portions of the leg portions b, b which form uprights, extending upwardly in said notches l and being thereby adequately held in a vertical position, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2. Staples or the like 9 can be driven into the ends of the base 5 to embrace the lower portions of the uprights b, b to prevent displacement of the frame from the base 5.

The frame 8 is preferably of a heavy gauge wire and has its upper ends bent downwardly as at It in close spaced or contacting relation with the adjacent portions of the uprights and between these opposed portions of the uprights, the ends of an elongated flexible or elasticstrip l l are disposed, the free ends of the'strip ll being bent backwardly over anchoring pins i2, and between said opposed portions of the uprights, as in the manner substantially shown in Figures 1' and 4. By pulling inwardly on the free ends of the strip H, the correct tensioning of the band ll can be secured.

At desired positions on the strip l l are display elements l3, l4, these elements having the'fi'exible strip 1 l disposed through medial portions thereof, just above their horizontal centers of weight, the band being positively fixed to the said elements sc -as to prevent any shifting of the elementslongitudinally on the strip.

The displa elements It maybe formed tosimulate various animals or other objects. Before operating the device, it is essential that the ends oi the strip ll be properly adjusted through the upper ends of the uprights b, b.

In the operation of the device, one of the elements, say for instance, the element l3 is-rotated one or two turns by simply flicking a finger against one end of the element I3; As the element it rotates, it winds the strip ll between itself and the other element 14 and at its extent of initial movement, the element l3 will hesitate, as the element it receives energy irom'the twisted tension strip H, the element It rotating in' 'th'e same direction and continuing on to twist the strip H in the same direction, with the result that when the momentum of the element l4 is slowed down, due to the resistance otthe strip lil, said strip ll will untwist'an'd exert its energy on the element l3, causing the latter to rotate and continue to twist the strip ll, so that when its momentum is diminished by the compression of the twisted strip H, the element I4 will begin to oscillate, and this will continue with diminishing momentum until the force of gravity stills both elements.

Figure 5 discloses a modification, this view briefly showing a frame which includes uprights l5, l5, with a flexible or elastic strip H a connected between the upper ends thereof, in substantially the same manner as shown in Figure 4, this strip Ila having display elements ltd, Ma secured thereon in the same manner as the elements 13, Hi are secured to the flexible strip l I The form of the invention shown in Figure 5 is a wheeled-type, the same including Wheels l6, l6 secured to an axle ll, the ends of which are journaled through the lower portions of the uprights l5, 15. A crank or hairpin-shaped offset I8 is provided in the axle I? and in the rotation of the axle i! by pulling the toy along on its wheels it, the formation l8 will intermittently exert force against the display element l3a to maintain the action of the element Ha, I do in the same manner as described in conjunction with the form of the invention shown in Figure 1.

In Figure 6, reference character [31) denotes the head portion of a modified display element, this modification disclosing a movable eye-feature l9 and a movable mouth feature 28.

The feature 49 consists in having an opening 2| through the upper portion of the head, the

ends of this opening communicating with elongated horizontally disposed depressions 22, 22 in the opposite sides of the head and in these depressions, animal eye simulating elements 23 are slidable, the eyes 23, 23 being connected loosely by a link 24 connecting eyes projecting inwardly from the inner sides of said eye elements 23. The connection of the eyes 23 is loose so that upon rocking of the display element, the

(.eye elements 23 will slide back and forth in the depressions 22, thus causing the optical illusion that the eyes are actually moving in an animated sense.

I The mouth feature consists in forming the head structure l3b with a hollowed out portion 25 to receive a counterbalancing tail member 26 of a body 21 which is intended to simulate the lower jaw of an animal, this being complemental to the edge portion 28 of the head 13b.

A pin 29 is disposed through the side wall portions of the head l3b at the hollowed out portion 25 and through the intermediate portion of the body and tail portion 21, 26 to balance these parts, and to the end that when the head is elevated, the jaw portion 21 will drop, and when the head portion is lowered, the jaw portion '21 will close, with respect to the portion 28, thus simulating the opening and closing of an animals mouth.

Obviously, certain parts of the structure may be constructed of wood, metal, plastic or other suitable material, as well as suitable gauge wire for the uprights or frame. Rubber or other suitable material may be used for the energy transmitting strip II or Ha.

While the foregoing description sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A toy comprising a base having a flat under face formed with a longitudinally extending groove communicating with vertical notches in end edge faces of the base, a frame formed of a strand of stiff wire and having a bridge seated in the groove in countersunk relation to the base and arms extending vertically through the notches and upwardly from ends of the base, upper ends of the arms being bent downwardly and forming bills, fasteners driven into ends of the base in straddling relation to the arms and securing the frame to the base, an elastic strip extending between upper ends of the arms and having its end portions folded back upon themselves and forming loops passing between the "bills and upper end portions of the arms, pins passing vertically through the loops and tightly gripped therein and disposed in engagement with outer side portions of the arms and the bills to prevent dislodgment of the elastic strip, and figures firmly carried by the elastic strip transversely thereof and spaced from each other longitudinally of the strip.

2. A toy comprising a base, arms extending upwardly from the base and formed of stiff wire, said arms having upper end portions bent downwardly back upon themselves and forming bills, an elastic strip extending between upper ends of the arms and having end portions folded back upon themselves and forming loops passing through space between the bills and the arms and gripped thereby with the loops projecting outwardly from the arms, pins passing vertically through the loops and firmly gripped therein and preventing dislodgment of the loops from the arms, and figures disposed transversel of the strip in crossed relation thereto and firmly mounted upon the said strip in spaced relation to each other longitudinally of the strip.

VIRGIL R. KIMPLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 79,208 Cooke June 23, 1868 239,869 Smith Apr. 5, 1881 731,299 Hale June 16, 1903 938,874 Klink Nov. 2, 1909 

